French Connection
With the aid of designer Jack Poles, Meg Reggie transforms her cramped, dated master bath into a soothing source of romantic allure.
“I’ve always been a Francophile,” declares Meg Reggie. Case in point: The Atlanta publicist’s once cramped and outdated master bath is now a bright study in Parisian charm, thanks to a recent overhaul accomplished with the help of designer Jack Poles of J. Poles Interiors Inc.
“We wanted to make the room bigger,” says Poles. “The existing cabinets and tub didn’t give a lot of space.” To create a sense of openness, Reggie and Poles enlisted contractor Michael Phelps of Southern Heritage Homes to knock out the original built-in tub and remove a bank of cabinetry with a vanity and sink that obstructed the room’s flow. To further streamline the look, they bathed the cabinets in a stunning blue hue, Benjamin Moore’s French Toile, a color that informed most of Reggie’s inspiration. “From just that color, the whole project came together,” she says.
Left with a much roomier floor plan, Poles and Reggie next tackled the fixtures and finishes, opting to infuse the space with bright, crisp updates, such as brushed nickel fixtures, raised round vessel sinks for subtle but modern appeal and gleaming white Carrara marble floors. In the corner by the window, Poles placed the room’s showstopper: an elegant freestanding tub by American Standard that boasts romantic faux-cornice edges. The ethereal draperies and tailored valance overlooking the tub complete the look, creating the perfect complement to a calming soak in the tub.
Adding jewel-like touches are a collection of curated details, including a delicate pewter-and-crystal chandelier hanging from above, a pair of gilded mirrors uncovered from storage, delicate wire baskets and—the finishing flourish—a patterned wallpaper from Thibaut whose blues, grays and greens tie in with the surrounding cabinet colors and white accents.
“Every time I go in here I’m happy,” says Reggie. “We made the room look exactly how I wanted while still working within the Country French- style of the rest of the house.”
INTERIOR DESIGN Jack Poles, J. Poles Interiors Inc. CONTRACTOR Michael Phelps, Southern Heritage Homes BATHTUB St. George freestanding soaking tub in canvas white, DXV by American Standard SINKS American Standard FAUCETS Randall Collection, DXV by American Standard CHANDELIER Restoration Hardware WALLPAPER Monterey Collection by Thibaut PAINT French Toile by Benjamin Moore TILE Carrara White polished marble